Business owners from the Harrogate district have given their reaction to last night’s announcement of a new national lockdown.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced at 8pm last night that a new lockdown would begin from today, with a stay at home order in place.
Other than for essential trips such as food shopping, medical needs, exercise, work where it cannot be done from home and to escape an unsafe home situation, people are instructed not to leave home.
Sandra Doherty, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said the measures would be difficult but were necessary to reduce transmission until the vaccination took effect. She said:
“It’s going to be incredibly tough for all businesses over the coming months, and sadly not all will survive into the spring.
“Until we can resume life as we knew it in pre-Covid days, the Government is going to have to continue its support to businesses, and extend it to those self-employed people who have so far not received any financial help at all.”
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Bob Kennedy, owner of Porters menswear in Harrogate, said his business suffered a “huge loss” turnover in the four months it was closed last year. He said his premises’ rateable value was considered too high to qualify to warrant government support, adding:
“We’re all in this together but if we’re to close for another month or two, landlords will have to take some of the hit too. We can’t keep being closed for months and carry on paying the rents.“We’re all in this together and it’s sickening to see some large national retailers completely ignoring the health of the nation by staying open and fully trading because they sell sandwiches or gardening gloves.”
Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, said he hoped the government would extend support for hospitality businesses amid the new restrictions. He said:
“I sincerely hope they will be extending the VAT for another year and the rates holiday. If they could do those two things, it would be helpful and that would be a clear plan.”
Will your business be affected by the new lockdown? Send your views and experiences to [email protected].
